The Simplicity of the Gospel: Volume 1: God Unveiled

By Dr. Kenneth C. Barker

At its core, God’s message about the saving power of Christ and our ability to have a relationship with our creator is simplicity in itself. Yet over the generations, the church has built up a dense and complex lexicon of words and phrases we now use to discuss the Bible and other spiritual issues. 

Anointed...hedges of protecti

• Language: English
• Publisher: Equip Press
• Release date: Dec 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781951304027

Book preview

Preface

I had the pleasure of going on a cruise with my wife last year. On the first morning of the cruise, my wife and I were on our way to the dining room for a much anticipated, restful, relaxing breakfast, prepared by someone else. As we arrived at the dining room, we were met by a closed door and another passenger who was on a similar quest. We found we were at the wrong dining room. The three of us then made our way, this time, to the correct location. As we walked, seeking the new location and anticipating the feast ahead of us, I invited the young lady to sit with us for breakfast.

During the approximately one and a half hour, breakfast, one of the many conversations we had focused on her short experience with attending church. In her entire life she had been to church on two occasions. The last time was a couple of years ago when she was visiting an aunt. The fact that she had attended church two times during her 19-year life was not what stumped me. What stumped me, or put another way, what smacked me like a brick across my face, was the response she gave when I asked about her experience at the church service. Her response came across very candid, with no malice, unaccusatory, and with all sincerity. She simply said, I did not understand what they were saying.

Over the next few minutes, she gave example after example of things, as believers, we take for granted. It hit me that as believers we have a lingo all to ourselves, and to the onlooker or the person visiting our services for the first time, that others do not understand. In our regular conversations with others and even from the pulpit on any given Sunday, Christian Lingo flows from our mouths like water over a waterfall, without any real thought as to where the water falls, or whether we are understood by those who seek to understand.

After this conversation, I pondered some of the words and terminologies we use on a regular basis without much thought: sanctification, justification, Holy Spirit, God, Jesus Christ, Messiah, give life to Christ, repentance, sin, baptism, believer, disciple, grace and faith were a few that immediately came to mind. What is it like for a new person, pre-believer—the state where an individual is seeking knowledge prior to believing what he/she hears—sitting in our churches, hearing all these words that they may or may not have heard before?

This work is the first of several pieces aimed to explain these and many other concepts in as simple a manner as I can. The purpose of communication, I am reminded, is to get a message across. If the words we use do not do the trick, or if the words we use need to be defined to facilitate understanding, then my purpose is to simplify Christianity for the good of those we have wronged because of our lingo. In other words, making the gospel simple: The Simplicity of the Gospel.

I can already anticipate receiving many emails, responses, and calls challenging this and other works. My response to those challenges will be simple; this is not intended to be a doctoral dissertation, thesis, or any form of academic writing where I back the things I write about by invoking the spirits of past or present theologians and biblical scholars. If that is what you are looking for, it might be a good time to put down this work and take a class in theology or purchase an additional book that will fulfill that need. This work is not intended for you. However, if you are an individual seeking a simplistic explanation of our faith and the hope that lies within us, I strongly suggest you continue reading.

I truly believe this, and future works of this nature, will enhance your knowledge of the Christian walk and your understanding of the hope we have in the Christ. I also pray, asking God that as you read, He will give you the ability to understand these words on paper. More importantly, I pray He will help you grow to a depth of understanding that allows you to have a closer relationship with Him. AMEN.

Dr. Kenneth C. Barker, PhD

Senior Pastor

Shepherd’s Community Church

A congregation of

Grace Communion International.

The Simplicity of the Gospel:

God Unveiled

by

Dr. Kenneth C. Barker

Introduction

Central to the life of a Christian is the belief upon which our lives are based. This belief influences our thoughts, words, deeds, and passions. We live it, breath it, are motivated by it. It dictates our mission in life, how we conduct ourselves in the workplace and at home, how we interact with each other and even the thoughts we entertain. So important is this belief that we willingly give up our lives for it. History and even our modern day, are strewn with thousands